QuickBooks Online goes global

QuickBooks Online is now available on a global basis thanks to configuration options that help the cloud-based accounting software for small businesses support local tax codes, languages and other factors, Intuit announced Tuesday.

Intuit first made the global capabilities available in July but didn't publicize it much until now, preferring to go with a soft launch in case any kinks needed to be worked out, according to Alex Lintner, president of Intuit's Global Business Division.

Early interest has been strong. Users in some 130 countries are now using QuickBooks Online, apparently due to word of mouth and Intuit's brand recognition around the world, according to Lintner.

He declined to say how many total new signups had occurred, however. "We don't want to talk about user numbers yet, but we're positively surprised," he said. There's been particular interest in India, Germany and Saudi Arabia, Lintner said. Intuit is starting to do some search engine optimization in the countries where it saw the highest demand, he added.

Previously, QuickBooks Online was only available in a handful of countries. It was launched about 10 years ago in the U.S. "for that early adopter crowd that wanted to go online 10 years ago," Lintner said. "It's hard to imagine now, but there weren't that many of them then."

While the global version can recognize a user's geographic location and makes some changes accordingly, things like local tax rates must be configured manually by the user.

QuickBooks Online's operations continue to be run in a Quincy, Washington, data center, but Intuit will look to add additional capacity through other means as needed.

The application is aimed at companies with fewer than 20 employees and has a somewhat narrower set of functionality than the desktop version of QuickBooks. Mobile access is also possible on Android devices, iPhones and BlackBerries.

There will be pricing parity throughout the world, calculated in U.S. dollars, Lintner said. Pricing starts at US$15 per month.

I would recommend this device for families and small businesses who want one safe place to store all their important digital content and a way to easily share it with friends, family, business partners, or customers.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited. Copyright 2013 IDG Communications.
ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved.

Contact Us

With over 25 years of brand awareness and credibility, Good Gear Guide (formerly PC World Australia), consistently delivers editorial excellence through award-winning content and trusted product reviews.